¹⁴ David stayed in the wilderness^(A) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.^(B) Day after day Saul searched^(C) for him, but God did not^(D) give David into his hands.

²⁵ Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

²⁸ Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.^[a]